Switching mechanism



W. O. LUM.

SWITCHING MECHANISM. APPucAn'oN FILED M'A4Y27, 1916.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY W. O. LUM.

SWITCHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21 1916.

1,370,02 Patented Mar.1, 1921.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2- V I I w I I I v WITNESSES: I & INVENTOFL Vlf/fe/O. Lz/m /Q 2 7 Z members 11 on the right constituting a support for the spring since they are prevented from rotating by the projections 13' and the coacting stop pins 14.

When the handle 17 and its connected parts are returned to their respective inoperative positions, the members 11 are turned to their illustrated positions with the projections 13 in engagement with the pins 14.

The various parts of the switching mechanism described above may be manufactured with a minimum expenditure of time and labor in View of the fact that they-may, for the most part, be formed by a single operation; for example, the members 7, 11 and 20 may be punched from plates or straps, as the maybe, of sheet material. The various parts may be readily assembled and secured in position. In order to place the members 11 and the attached contact mem bers 8 in their operative positions, it is only necessary to compress the spring 16 to such degree that the members 11 may be inserted between the members 15.

The switching mechanism constituting the subject-matter of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in connection vith automatic starters for electric motors but it will be understood that it may be employed in any mechanism of a simliar character which embodies corresponding parts.

I claim as my invention:

.1. In a switching mechanism, the combination with a plurality of pivotal supporting members and a corresponding number of members having substantially semi-circular bearing portions for coacting with said pivbination with a supporting member, and a plurality of members pivotally mounted thereon and having substantially semi-circular bearing surfaces, the open sides of which are oppositely disposed, a stop for limiting the rotative D'IOVGHlBllt of said pivotally mounted members, and a spring for retail ing said pivotally mounted members in op erative relation to said supporting member.

4;. The combination with a pair of stationa-ry contact elements, ota pair of co operating movable contact elements normally occupying an inoperative position, means for maintaining said movable elements separated, means for limiting the degree of separation of said movable elements and means for actuating one of said movable elements into engagement with the corresponding stantionary element, said other element then serving as a support said maintaining means to cause said maintairn in emails to effect firm en agement between said one movable element and. said corresponding stationary eien'ient.

'WALTER O. LUM.

r In a switching mechanism, the com 

